Brexit deal is a relief for Border communities – Minister Humphreys

The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys TD, has welcomed the outcome of the Phase 1 of the Brexit negotiations as “hugely positive for communities across Monaghan, Cavan and the border region”. The European Commission has indicated it is happy that enough progress has been made on the Brexit phase one negotiations to recommend to the Council of Ministers that negotiations should now move to phase two. Minister Humphreys described this as a significant day for Ireland and the border region: “We have achieved all of our goals in the Phase 1 negotiations, including confirmation that there will be no hard border after Britain leaves the EU. Checkpoints will not be reintroduced along the frontier with the North – a development that I know will be welcomed by communities in both jurisdictions”

Minister Humphreys believes it is an important day for communities on both sides of the border, “This is a good day for Monaghan and Cavan. It is also a good day for our neighbours in Fermanagh, Armagh and Tyrone where people have enjoyed the normality of life in recent years and now, thanks to this agreement, can continue to do so. Crucially too, further funding from the EU to help us on the path to reconciliation will continue through Peace and Interreg funding which is so important for the border counties. This will now continue until 2021 with a commitment to examining it further.”

The Minister praised the politicians and diplomats who worked on getting the Brexit agreement across the line: “I want to pay tribute to the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney and our senior diplomats who have shown huge commitment to the border region and worked tirelessly in order to get us to this point”.